“All the glory of the King’s daughter is within,” is a quote from Psalms that changed my life and truly shaped my idea of style and how I want to conduct myself. You see, fashion is self-expression: it’s a way to show the world who we are at first glance. We never want to ‘judge a book by their cover’ and while we may not judge, it certainly is the first impression we give off, which is why what we wear is important.
Each person has their style and reason behind it and mine just so happens to be modesty. Modesty means something different to everybody--maybe it’s the appearance or maybe it’s the speech and action: to me it is both and at its core, it’s religious.
In today's society, less is--less. However people dress is their right and I am not here to tell anyone how to be or how to dress. It is something I’ve noticed and struggled with when shopping for less revealing clothes. As a modest consumer, going shopping is like a treasure hunt. I have to think in terms of a bigger picture: “Can I pair this top with this skirt?” “Is that neckline high enough?” “Why must they sell half of a shirt?” (Gotta love the crop top style craze).
It’s not easy, but it forces you to think outside of the box. Then, there are some times when the seasons are just right that you catch everything on sale as it goes out and you fill your closet with cute modest clothes. Yes, I have to make the skirts longer and I have to add another shirt under my blouse, but it’s all worth it because it’s become such a part of who I am.
It sounds a little silly, right? Why should I have to conform to some sort of religious rules on what to wear? Shouldn’t I be strong and independent and make my own choices? When I first started on the path to Orthodox Judaism, the first thing to attract me was modesty, or as it’s known in Hebrew, tzniut [tz-nee-oot]. I got my first taste of it in Boro Park, New York and from there it was instant love. Now, it might not seem so thrilling covering everything up: in fact, it could even seem restrictive. But it never was that way for me. My deepest connection with God comes from being able to dress in a manner that represents my belief and every moment of the day I can show it.
I’ve come to create my own style within modesty, it’s been an adventure within itself to figure out who I am within certain parameters. I think that’s what makes it incredible--even within "rules," there is still room for self-expression and individuality. The moment I started covering up is the moment that I liked how I looked in pictures and truly came into my own. It allowed me to see that my value as a woman, no, as a human was so much more than what I was wearing. I am smart, talented, a person of faith: but in addition to all that I have a sense of fashion.
To me, modesty has been what’s empowered me. I wear what I wear for myself and God, no one else. I am not ashamed to admit it and I take pride in who I am. I think that no matter what you wear or how you choose to present yourself to the world, you should be happy and comfortable. It’s the person that makes the clothes, not the other way around. My biggest advice? Whether it be covering up or showing off, dress head to toe in confidence: it’s the best style you could ever be adorned in.
